ti7>Zb 


Duke  University  Libraries 

True  courage: 
Conf  Pam  12mo  #326 


TRUE   COURAGE: 


A     DISCO  IT  R  B  E 


:  EMORATITE     OF 


firut.  imcral  Thomas  "$.  Jackson, 


BY  REV.  R.  L.   DABNEY,  D.  D. 

PRwFESSOR   IN    PSION   THEOLOQIGAI.   SEMINARY.    TA 


3  C  CON  0     EDITION, 


RICHMOND,    VA., 

PRESBYTERIAN    COMMITTEE    OP    PUBLICATION 
0  OP    THE    CONFEDERATE    STATES 

1863, 


TRUE    COURAGE. 


«  Be  not  afraid  of  them  that  kill  the  boiy,  and  after  tfutU 
have  no  more  that  they  can  do.  But  I  will  forewarn  you 
whom  ye  shall  fear :  Fearjiim  which,  after  he  hath  killed, 
hath  power  to  cast  into  hell ;  yea,  J  say  unto  you,  fear 
him."— Lvke  xn  :  4,  5, 

A  little  wisdom  and  experience   will  teach  us  to  be 
very  modest,  in  interpreting  God's  purposes  by  his  prov- 
idences.    '•  It  is  the  glory  of  the  Lord  to  conceal  a  thiug." 
His  designs  are  too  vast  and  complex  for  our  puny  minds 
to  infer  them,  from  the  fragments  of  his  ways  which  fall 
under  our  eyes.     Yet,  it  is  evident,  that  He   intends  us 
to  learn  instruction  from  the  events  which  occur  before 
us  under  the  regulation  of  his   holy  will.     The  profane 
are  more  than  once  rebuked  by  Him  (as  Isa.  5:  12.) 
because  "  they  regard  not  the  work  of  the  Lord,  neither 
consider  the  operation  of  his  hands."     And  our  Saviour 
sharply  chides  the  Jewish  Pharisees :  "  0  ye  hypocrites 
ye  can  discern  the  lace  of  the  sky ;  but  can  ye  not  dis- 
cern the  signs  of  the  times?"     (Matt.  16:  3.)     We  are 
not  therefore  to  refuse  the  lesson*  of  those  events  whick 
Providence  evolves,  because  caution  and  humility  are  re- 
quired in  learning  them.     We  have  a  guide,  which  will 
conduct  us  securely  to  the  understanding  of  so  much  of 
them  as  God  intend*  us  to  study:    That^guide  is  the 
Holy  Scriptures.    Aiaeftjs   llie  several  principles  which 

P 42767 


TRUE    COURAGE 


they  lay  down  for   the/explanation  of  God's  dealings  it 
is  sufficient  for  onr  present   task,    to  declare  this  one: 
Ibatthe  characters  of  bis  children  which   exhibit  the 
scriptural  model,  are  given  as   examples,  to  be  studied 
and  ,mitated  by  us.     He  would  tins  teach  us  more  than 
those  abstract  conceptions  of  Christian  excellence,  which 
are  conveyed  by  general  definitions  of  duty;  he  would    " 
give  us  a  living  picture  .and  concrete  idea,     Ho  thus  aims 
to  stimulate  oup  aspirations  and  efforts,  by  showing  us 
that  the  attainments  of  holiness  are  within  human  reach 
He  enstamps  the  moral  likeness  on  the  imitative  soul  by     ' 
tho  warmth  of  admiration   and   love.     That  such  is  the 
use  God  mtends  us  to  make  of  noble  examples,  the  Apos- 
tle James  teaches  us,.  (5:  10.)     "Take,  my  brethren, 
the  prophets,  who  have  spoken  in  the  name  of  the  Lord 
ior  an   example  of  suffering  and  affliction   and  of  pa- 
tiencej"  and  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews,  (6:  12,)  when 
it  desires  us  to  «  be  followers  of  them  who,  through  pa- 
tience,  inherit  the  promises." 

Common  sense  teaches  us  then,  from  these  texts,  that 
the  lesson  is  important  and  impressive,  in  proportion  as 
the  example  given  us  was  illustrious.  By  this  rule,  God 
iddresses  to  us  instruction  of  solemn  emphasis,  in  the 
character,  and  the  death,  which  we  have  now  met  to 
commemorate.  Our  dead  hero  is  God's  sermon  to  us. 
Km  embodied  admonition.  His  incorporate  discourse,  to- 
nculcate  upon  us  the  virtue  with  which  he  was  adorn- 
dby  the  Holy  Ghost;  and  especially  those  traits  of 
he  citizen,  the  Christian,  and  the  soldier,  now  most  es- 
aatial  to  the  times.  He,  calls  us,  not  to  exhaust  the 
acaswm  in  useless  i&si  *if|#es,  but  to  come  and  learn 
*  Wy  of  IJtfjfet  ¥  ^  ]isht  of  a  saining  cwu* 


1RVK.    COURAGE.  '  5 

pie;  and  to  let  our  ■  passionate  Jove  and  grief  burn  in 
upon  the  plastic  heart,  the  impress  of  his  principles. 
Happy  shall  I  be,  if  I  can  so  conceive  and  execute  my 
humble  task,  as  to  permit  this  character  to  speak  its 
own  high  lesson  to  your  hearts.  The  only  reason  which 
makes  you  think  this  task  appropriate  to  me,  is  doubt- 
less this  :  that  I  had  the  privilege  of  his  friendship,  and* 
an  opportunity  for  intimately  observing  his  character, 
during  the  most  brilliant  part  of  his  career.  The  ex- 
pectations which  you  form  from  this  fact,  must  be  my' 
justification  from  the  charge  of  egotism,  if  I  should  al- 
lude to  my  own  observations  of  him,  in  exemplifying 
these  instructions.  But  I  must  also  forewarn  you,  that 
should  there  be  any  expectation  of  mere-  anecdote  to 
gratify  an  idle  curiosity,  or  of  any  disclosures  of  confi- 
dential intercourse,  now  doubly  sanctified  by  the  seal  of 
the  tomb,  it  will  not  be  gratified.  Aiui  let  it  be  added, 
that  however  the  heart  may  prompt  enconiums  on  the 
departed,  these  are  not  the  direct  object,  but  only  the 
incidental  result  of  this  discourse.  1  stand  here,  as 
God's  herald,  in  God's  sanctuary,  on  his  holy  day,  by  his 
authority.  My  business  is,  not  to  praise  any  man,  how- 
ever beloved  and  bewailed,  but  only  to  unfold'God's  mes- 
sage through  his  life  and  death.  Among  that  cirele  of 
virtues  which  his  symmetrical  character  displayed,  since 
time  would  fail  me  to  do  justice  to  all,  I  propose  more 
especially,  to  select  one,  for  our  consideration,  his  Chris- 
tian courage.  P-4  2  7  6  7 

Courage  is  the  opposite  of  fear.  But  fear  may  be  de- 
scribed either  as  a  feeling  and  appreciation  of  existing 
danger,  or  an  unduo  yielding  to  that  feeling.  It  i;  in 
the  latter  sense,  that  it  is  unworthy.    In  the  former,  it 


TRUE    I'UUIUGE. 


is  the  necessary  result  of  the  natural,  desire  for  well- 
being,  in  a  creature  endued  with  reflection  and  f  >recast. 
Hence  a  true  courage  implies  the  existence  of  fear  in  the 
form  of  sense,  that  is,  of  a  feeling  of  danger.  FAr  cour- 
age is  but  the  overcoming  of  that  feeling  by  a  worthier 
motive.  A. danger  unfelt  is  as  though  it  did  not  exist. 
No  man  could.be  called  brave  for  advancing  coolly  upon 
a  risk  of  which  he  was  totally  unconscious.  It  is  only 
where  there  is  an  exertion  of  fortitude  in  bearing  up 
against  the  consciousness  of  peril,  that  true  courage  has 
place.  If  there  is  any  man  who  can  literally  say  that 
"  he  knows  no  fear ;"  then  he  deserves  no  credit  for  his 
composure.  True,  a  generous  fortitude,  in  resisting  the 
consiousness  of  danger,  will  partly  extinguish  it ;  so  that 
a  sensibility  to  it,  over-sensitive  and  prominent  among 
the  emotions,  is  an  indication  of  a  mean  self-love. 

There  are  three  emotions  which  claim  the  name  of 
courage.  The  first  is  animal  courage.  This  is  but  the 
ferment  of  animal  passions  and  blind  sympathies,  com- 
bined with  an  irrational  thoughtlessness.  The  man  is 
courageous,  only  because  he  refuses  to  reflect;  bold  be- 
cause he  is  blind.  This  animal  hardihood,  according  to 
the  obvious  truths  explained  above,  does  not  deserve  the 
name  of  true  eourage;  because  thereis  no  rational  forti- 
tude in  resisting  the  consciousness  of  danger.  And  it  is 
little  worthy  of  trust ;  for  having  no  foundation  in  a 
reasoning  self-command,  a  sudden,  vivid  perception  of 
the  evil  hitherto  unnoted,  may,  at  any  moment,  supplant 
it  with  a  panic,  as  unreasoning  and  intense  as  the  previ- 
ous fury.  The  second  species  of  courage  is  that  prompt- 
ed by  the  spirit  of  personal  honor.  There  is  a  conscious- 
"ncss  of  risk  ;  /but  it  is  manfully  controlled  by  the  souti- 


TRUE    COURAGE.  7 

ment  of  pride,  the  keener  fear  of  reproach,  and  the  de- 
sire of  applause.  This  kind  of  fortitude  is  more  worthy 
of  the  name  of  courage,  because  it  exhibits  self-com- 
mand. But  after  all,  the  motive  is  personal  and  selfish  ; 
and  therefore  the  sentiment  does  not  rise  to  the  level  of 
a  virtue.  The  third  species  is  the  moral  courage  of  him 
who  fears  God,  and,  far  that  reason,  fears  nothing  else. 
There  is  an  intelligent  apprehension  of  danger ;  there  is 
the  natural  instinct  of  self-love  desiring  to  preserve  its 
owi\  well-being ;  but  it  is  curbed  and  governed  by  the 
sense  of  duty,  and  desire  for  the  approbation  of  God. 
This  alone  is  true  courage  ;  true  virtue  ;  for  it  is  ration- 
al, and  its  motive  n  moral  and  unselfish.  It  is  a  true 
Christian  grace,  when  found  in  its  purest  forms,  a  grace 
whose  highest  exemplar,  and  whose  source,  is  the  Divine 
Redeemer;  whose  principle  is  that  parent  grace  of  the 
poul,  faith.  "David,'  and  Samuel,  and  the  prophets. 
through  faith  subdued  kingdoms,  *  *  *  *  waxed  valiant 
in  fight,  turned  to  flight  the  armies  of  the  aliens."  (Heb. 
11:  33,  34.)  Trust  in  God,  in  his  faithfulness,  his  ap- 
probation, his  reward,  his  command  to  brave  the  risks 
allotted  to  them,  was  their  motive.  But  "  Christ  dwell- 
eth  in  our  hearts  by  faith."  (Eph.  3  :  17.)  This  is  the 
principle  by  which  the  soul  of  the  believer  is  brought 
into  living  union  with  Christ;  and  the  heart,  otherwise 
sapless  and  withered,  is  penetrated  by  the  vital  sap  o. 
his  holy  Spirit.  He  is  the  head ;  men  of  faith  his  mem 
bers  ;  he  the  stock  ;  they  the  branches ;  his  divine  prin- 
ciples circulate  from  him  into  their  souls,  ard  assimilate 
them  to  him.  But  the  whole  mission  of  Jesus  Christ  or 
earth  is  a  divine  exemplification  of  moral  courage.  What 
waA  it,  save  the  unselfish  sentiment  of  duty,  oTerrulin* 


8#  TRUE   COURAGE. 

the  anticipations  of  personal  evil  which  made  him  de- 
clare, in  prospect  of  all. the  woes  of  his  incarnation,  "Lo 
I  come,  in  the  volume  of  the  book  it  is  written  unto 
me ;  I  delight  to  do  thy  will  Oh  my  God  ?"  What  else 
caused  him  to  press  forward  with  eager,  hungering  haste, 
through  the  toils  and  obloquy  of  his  persecuted  life,  to 
that  baptism  of  blood,  which  awaited  him  at  Jerusalem  ? 
What  else  nerved  him  when  deserted,  betrayed,  and 
destined  to  death,  desolate,  and  fainting,  amidst  a  piti- 
less flood  of  enemies,  one  word  of  disclaimer  might 
have  rescued  him,  to  refuse  that  word  and  assert  his 
rightful  kingship  over  Zion,  with  a  tenacity  more  indom- 
itable than  the  grave?  Jesus  Christ  is  the  Divine 
Pattern  and  Fountain  of  heroism.  Earth's  true  heroes 
are  they  who  derive  their  courage  from  him. 

Yet  it  is  true,  the  three  kinds  of  bravery  which  have 
been  defined,  may  be  mixed  in  many  breasts.  Some 
who  have  true  moral  courage  may  have  animal  hardi- 
hood; and  others  truly  brave  may  lack  it.  No  Chris- 
tian courage,  perhaps,  exists  without  a  union  of  that 
which  the  spirit  of  personal  honor,  in  its  innocent  phase 
inspires :  and  many  men  of  honor  have  perhaps  some 
shade  of  the  pure  sentiment  of  duty,  mingled  with  the 
pride  and  self-glorying,  which,  chiefly  nerve  their  forti- 
tude. But  he  is  the  bravest  man,  who  is  the  best  Christian. 
It  is  he  who  truly  fears  God,  who  is  entitled  to  fear  nothing 
else. 

1.  He  whose  conduct  is  governed  by  the  fear  of  God, 
is  brave,  because  the  powers  of  his  soul  are  in  harmony. 
There  is  no  mutiny  or  war  within,  of  fear  against  shame, 
of  duty  against  safety,  of  conscience  and  evil  desire,  by 
wjuch,  the  bad  man  has  his  heart  unnerved.    All  the  no- 


TRUE    COURAGt.  9 

bier  capacities  of  the  soul  combine  their  strength,  and 
especially,  that  master  power,  of  which  the  wicked  are 
compelled  to  sing:  "It  is  conscience  that  makes  cowards 
of  us  all,"  invigorates  the  soul  with  her  plaudks.  In 
conscious  rectitude  there  is  strength. 

This  strength  Gen.  Jackson  eminently  possessed.  He 
walked  in  the  fe*r  of  God,  with  a  perfect  heart,  keeping  all 
his.commandments  and  ordinances,  blameless.  Never  has 
it  been  my  happiness  to  know  one  of  greater  purity  of  life, 
or  more  regular  and  devout  habits  of  prayer.  As  ever  in 
his  great  task-master's  eye,  he  seemed  to  devote  every  hour 
to  the  sentiment  of  duty,  and  only  to  live  to  fulfill  his  charge 
as  aservant  God.  Of  this  be  assured,  that  all  his  eminence 
and  success  as  a  great  and  brave  spldier  were  based  on  his  em- 
inence and  sanctify  as  a  Christian.  Thus,  every  power  of 
his  soul  was  brought  lightened  and  honest  conscience. 
How  could  such  a  soul  to  muve  in  sweet  accord,  under  the 
guidance  of  an  enfail  to  be  courageous  for  the  right  ? 

But  especially  did  he  derive  firmness  and  decision, 
from  the  peculiar  strength  of  his  conviction  concerning 
the  righteousness  and  necessity  of  this  war.  Had  ho  not 
sought  the  light  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  in  thorough  ex- 
amination and  prayer,  had  his  pure  and  honest  conscience 
not  justified  the  act,  even  in  the  eye  of  that  Searcher  of 
hearts,  whose  fear  was  his  evec-present ,  ruling  principle, 
never  would  he  have  drawn  his  sword  in  this  great  quar- 
rel, at  the  prompting  of  any  sectional  pride,  or  ambition, 
or  interest,  or  anger,  or  dread  of  obloquy.  But  having 
judged  for  himself,  in  all  sincerity,  he  decided,  with  a 
force  of  conviction  as  fixed  as  the  everlasting  hills,  that 
our  enemies  were  the  aggressors,  that  they  assailed  vital, 
essential  rights,  and  that  resistance  unto  death   was  our 


10  TK.UK  courage. 

right  and  duty.  On  the  correctness  of  that  decision, 
reached  through  fervent  prayer,  under  the  teachings  of 
the  sure  word  of  Scripture,  through  the  light  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  which  he  was  assured  God  vouchsafed  to 
him,  he  stood  prepared  to  risk,  not  only  earthly  prospects 
and  estate,  but  an  immortal  soul ;  and  to  venture,  with- 
out one  quiver  of  doubt  or  fear,  before  the  irrevocable 
bar  of  God  the  Judge.  The  great  question:  "  What  if 
I  die  in  this  quarrel,"  was  deliberately  settled;  so  de- 
liberately, so  maturely,  that  he  was  ready  to  venture 
his  everlasting  all  upon  the  belief  that  this  was  the  path 
of  duty. 

And  so,  we  may  assert,  it  is  with  all  the  best  of  our 
land.  Just  in  proportion  to  the  integrity  of  men's  prin- 
ciples, to  their  magnanimity,  to  their  incorruptible  lov6 
of  right  and  truth,  to  tlieir  fear  of  God,  have  been  their 
decision  and  zeal  to  tbre  cause  of  the  Confederate  Stafes* 
Our  mothers,  wives  and  sisters,  with  their  diainteitoi:  i 
and  generous  instincts ;  our  most  honored  and  venerable 
citizens  and  jurists;  the  most  saintly  and  rey.cTCiu!  pas- 
tor* in  the  Church  of  Christ ;  have  been  foremost  to 
justify  our  defence.  If  there  have  been  any  dissent, 
they  have  been  found  usually  among  the  ignorant,  the 
mercenary,  anil  the  base.  This  is  our  answer  to  the 
slanderers,  who  denounced  our  revolution  as  a  scheme 
of  wicked  politicians,  an  artifice  of  the  ambitious  and 
factious  few. 

II.  The  second  reason  which  makes  the  man  of  faith 
brave,  is  stated  in  the  context :  "  Are  not  five  sparrows 
sold  for  two  farthings,  and  not  one  of  them  is  forgotten 
before  God  ?  But  even  the  very  hairs  of  your  head  are 
all   numbered.     Fear   not   therefore;    ye   are   of  more 


TUli:    COUKAliE. 


value  than  many  sparrows."     God's  special   providence 
is  over  all  his  creatures,  and  all  their  actions  ;  it  is  over 
them  that  fear  him  ;  for  their  good  only.     By  that  al- 
mighty and  omniscient  providence,  all  events  are  either 
produced  ;  or  at  least  permitted,  limited,  and  overruled. 
There  is  no  creature  so  great  as  to  resist  its  power,  none 
so  minute  as  to  evade  its  wisdom.     Each  particular  act 
among  the  most  multitudinous  which  confound  our  at- 
tention by  their  number,  or  the  most  fortuitous,  which 
'entirely  baffle  our  inquiry  into  their  causes,  is  regulated 
by  this   intelligent  purpose   of  God.     Even   when  the 
thousand  misseles  of  death,  invisible  to  mortal  sight,  are 
sent  forth  aimless  by  those  who   launched  them,  shoot 
in  inexplicable  confusion  o#r  the  battle-field,   His  eye 
gives  each  one  an    aim   and  a  purpose,  according  to  thp 
plan  of  his  wisdom.     Thus  teacheth  our  Saviour. 

Now,  the  child  of  God  is  not  taught  what  is  the  spe- 
cial will.of  God  as  to  himself;  he  has  no  revelation  as  to 
tne  security  of  his  person.     Nor  does  he  presume  to  pre- 
dict what  particular  dispensation  God   will   grant  to  the 
cause  in  which  to  is  embarked.     But  he  knows  that,  be 
it  what  it  may,   it  will   be  wise,   and   right,  and  good. 
Whether  the  arrows  of  death   shall   smite  him  or  pass 
him  by,  he  knows  no  more  than  the  unbelieving  sinner ; 
but  he  knows  that  neither  event  can  happen  him  without 
the  purpose  and  will  of  his  Heavenly  Father.     And  that 
will,  be  it  whichever  it  may,  is  guided  by  Divine  wis- 
dom and  love.     Should  the  event  prove  a  revelation  of 
God's  decision,  that  this  was  the  place,  and  this  the  hour, 
for  life  to  end ;  then  he  accepts  it  with  calm  submission  ; 
for  are  not  the  time  and  place  chosen  for  him  by  the  All- 
wise,  who  loves  him  from  eternity  7     Him  wko  walks  in 


the  true  fear  of  God,  God  loves.'  He  hath  adopted  him 
as  his  son  forever,  through  his  faith  on  {she  righteousness 
of  the  Eedeerner.  The  Divine  anger  is  'forever  extin- 
guished by  the  atonement  of  the  Lamb  of  God,  and  the 
unchangeable  love  of  God  is  conciliated  to  him  by  the 
spotless  righteousness  of  his  Substitute.  The  precious- 
ness  of  the  unspeakable  gift  which  God  gave  for  his  re- 
redemption,  even  the  life  of  the  Only-begotten,  and  the 
earnest  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  bestowed  upon  him  at  first 
while  a  guilty  sinner,  are  the  arguments  to  this  believer, 
of. the  richness  and  strength  of  God's  love  to  him.  He 
knows  that  a  love  so  eternal,  so  free,  so  strong,  in  the 
breast  of  such  a  God  and  Saviour,  can  leave  nothing  un- 
bestowed,  which  divine  wisdom  perceives  to  be  for  his 
true  good.  "  He  that  spared  not  his  own  Son,  but  de- 
livered him  up  for  us  all,  how  shall  he  not  with  him  also 
freely  give  us  all  things"  (Rom.  8:  32.)  And  this  * 
love  has  enlisted  for  his  safeguard,  all  the  attributes  of 
God,  which  are  the  security  of  His  own  blessedness. 
Why  dwelleth  the  Divi»e  mind  in  ineffable,  perpetual 
peace  ?  Not  because  there  are  none  to  assail  it ;  but  be- 
cause God  is  conscious  in  himself  of  infinite  resources, 
for  defence  and  victory ;  of  a  knowledge  whichno  cun- 
ning can  deceive ;  of  a  power  which  no  combination  can 
fatigu  ?.  TVell,  these  same  attributes,  which  support  the 
stabili  :y  of  Jehovah's  throne,  surround  the  weakest  child 
of  God,  with  all  ttie  zeal  of  redeeming  love.  "  The  eter- 
nal God  is  his  refuge ;  and  underneath  him  are  the  ever- 
iast'mg  arms."  (Deut.  33  :  27.)  Therefore  saith  the 
Apostle,  that  the  believer  hath  "  his  heart  and  mind  gar- 
risoned by  the  peace  of  God  which  passeth  all  under^- 
standing-"     (Phil.  4:  7.)     And"  therefore  our  Saviour 


TRUE    COURAGE.  13 

m 

saith,  with  a  literal  emphasis  of  which  our  faint  hearts 
are  slow  to  take  in  the  full  glory*  "  Peace  I  leave  with 
you;  my  peace  I  give  unto  you."  (John  14:  27.)  In 
proportion  as  God's  children  have  faith  to  embrace  the 
love  of  God  to  them,  are  they  lifted  in  spirit  to  his  very 
throne  and  cm  look  down  upon  the  rage  of  battle,  and 
the  tuniu}t  of  the  people,  with  some  of  the  holy  disdain, 
the  ineffable  security,  which  constitute  the  blessedness 
of  God      "  Their  life  is  hid  with  Christ  in  God." 

It  has  been  said  that  Gen.  Jackson  was  a  fatalist,  by 
those  who  knew  not  whereof  they  affirmed.  He  was  a 
strong  believer  in  the  special  providence  of  God.  The 
doctrine  of  a  Fate  is,  that  all  events  are  fixed  by  an  im- 
manent, physical  necessity  in  the  series  of  causes  and  ef 
fects  themselves;  a  necessity  as.blind  and  unreasoning  as 
the  tendency  of  the  stone  towards  the  earth,  when  un- 
supported from  beneath  ;  a  necessity  as  much  controlling 
the  intelligence  and  will  of  God  as  of  creatures ;  a  ne- 
cessity which  admits  of  qo  modification  of  results  through 
the  agency  of  second  causes,  but  renders  them  inopera- 
tive and  non-essential,  save  as  the  mere,  passive  stepping 
stones  in  the  inevitable  progression.  The  doctrine  of  a 
Providence  teaches  that  the  regular,  natural  agency  of 
second  causes  is  sustained,  preserved,  and  regulated  by 
the  power  and  intelligence  of  God;  and  that  in  and 
through  that  agency,  every  event  is  directed  by  his  most 
wise  and  holy  will,  according  to  His  plan,  and  the  laws 
of  nature  which  He  has  ordained.  Fatalism  tends  to 
apathy,  to  absolute  inaction:  a  belief  in  the  provi- 
dence of  the  Scriptures,  to  intelligent  and  hopeful  effort. 
It  does  not  overthrow,  but  rather  establish  the  agency  of 
second  causes,  because  it  teaches  us  that  God's  purpose. 


H  TKLJL    COUltAUfi. 

to  effectuate  events  only  through  them  (save  in  the  case 
of  miracles,)  is  as  steadfast,  as  his  purpose  to  carry  out 
his  eternal  plan.  Hence  it  produces  ,a  combination  of 
courageous  serenity, — with  cheerful  diligence  in  the  use 
of  means.  My. illustrious  leader  was  as  laborious  as  he 
was  trustful;  and  laborious  precisely  because  he  wa3 
trustful.  Every  thing  that  self-sacrificing  care,  and  pre- 
paration, and  forecast,  and  toil,  could  do,  to  prepare  and 
to  earn  success,  he  did.  And  therefore  it  wis,  that  God, 
without  whom  "  the  watchman  waketh  but  in  vain," 
usually  bestowed  success.  So  likewise,  his  belief  in  the 
superintendence  of  the  Almighty  was  a  most  strong  and 
living  conviction.  Tn  every  Order,  or  Dispatch,  announc- 
ing a  victory,  he  was  prompt  to  ascribe  the  result  to  the 
Lord  o ;' Hosts ;  and  those  simple,  emphatic,  devout  as- 
criptions were  with  him  no  unmeaning  formalities.*  In 
the  very  flush  of  triumph,  he  has  been  known  to  seize 
the  juncture  for  the  earnest  inculcation  o.'  this  truth 
upon  the  minds  of  his  subordinates.  On  the  momentous 
morning  of  Friday,  June  27th,  1862,  as  the  different 
corps  of  the  patriotic  army  were  moving  to  their  respec- 
tive posts,  to  fill  their  parts  in  the  mighty  combinati  >n 
of  their  chief,  after. Jackson  had  held  his  final  interview 
with  him,  and  resumed  his  march  for  his  position  at  Cold 
Harbour,  his  command  was  misled,  by  a  misconception  of 
his  guides,  and-  seemed  about  to  mingle  with,  and  con- 
fuse, another  part  of  our  forces.  More  than  an  hour  of 
seemingly  precious  time  was  expended  in  rectifying  this 
mistake;  while  the  booming  of  cannon  in  the  front  told 
us  that  the  struggle  had  begun,  and  made  our  breasts 
thrill  with  an  agony  of  suspense,  lest  the  irreparable 
hour  should  be  lost  by  our  delay :  for  we  had  still  many 


i;:i  >.    COl  ■   IGE.  15 

miles  to  march.  When  this  anxious  fear  was  suggested 
privately  to  Jackson,  he  answered,  with  a  calm  and  as- 
sured countenance :  "No;  let  u*9  trust  that  the  provi- 
dence of  our  God  will  so  overrule  it,  that  no  mischief 
shall  result/'  And  verily ;  no  mischief  did  result. 
Providence  brought  as  precisely  into  conjunction  with 
the  bodies  with  which  we  were  to  co-operate:  the  bat- 
tle was  joined  at  the  right  juncture  and  by  the  time  the 
stars  appeared,  the  right  wing  of  the  enemy,  with  which 
he  was  appointed  to  deal,  was  nurled  in  utter  rout,  across 
the  river.  More  than  once,  when  sent  to  bring  one  of 
his  old  fighting  brigades  into  action,  I  had  noticed  him 
^tting  motionless  upon  his  horse- with  his  right  hand  up- 
lifted, while  the  war-worn  column  poured  in  stern  si- 
lence close  by  hi*  side.  At  first  it  did  not  appear  wheth- 
er it  was  mere  abstraction  of  thought,  or  a  posture  to 
relieve  his  fatigue.  But  at  Port.  Republic,  I  saw  it  again  - 
and  watching  him  more  narrowly,  was  convinced  by  his 
closed  eyes  and  moving  lips,  that  ho  was  wrestling  in  si- 
lent prayer.  I  thought  that  1  could  surmise  what  was 
then  passing  through  his  fervent  soul;  the  sovereignty 
of  that  Providence  which  workcth  all  things  after  the 
•counsel  of  his  own  will,  and  givcth  the  battle  not  to  the 
strong,  nor  the  race  to  the  swift:  his  own  fearful  re- 
sponsibility, and  need  of  that  counsel  and  sound  wisdom, 
which  God  alone  can  give;  the  crisis  of  his  beloved  coun- 
try, and  the  balance  trembling  between  defeat  and  vic- 
tory;  the  precious  lives  of  his  veterans,  which  the  inex- 
orable ne«es'*itie^  of  war  compelled  him  to  jeopardize ; 
the  immortal  souls  passing  to  thwr  account,  perhaps  un- 
prepared ;  the  widowhood  an*!  orphanage  which  might 
result  from  the  orders  he  hid  jast  been  compelled  to  is- 


1G  *TRUE    COURAGE. 

sue.  And  as  his  beloved  men  swept  by  him  to  the  front, 
into  the  storm  of  shot,  doubtless  Lis  great  heart,  as  ten- 
der as  it  was  resolute,  yeaaned  ever  them  in  unutterable 
longings  and  intercessions,  that  "  the  Almighty  would 
cover. them  with  his  feathers,  and  that  his  truth  might 
be  their  shield  and  buckler."  Surely  the  moral  grandeur 
©f  this  scene  was  akin  to  that,  when  Moses  stood  upon 
the  Mount  of  God,  and  lifted  up  his  hands,-  while  Israel 
prevailed  against  Amalek  !  'And  what  soldier-would  not 
desire  to  have  the  shield  of  such  •prayers,  under  which 
to  fight?  Were  they  not  a  more  powerful  element  of 
success  than  the  artillery,  or  the  bayonets  of  the  Stone- 
wall Brigade? 

III.  The  true  fear  of  God  ensures  the  safety  of  the  im- 
mortal soul.  United  to  Christ  by  faith,  adopted  into  the 
unchanging  favor  of  God,  and  heir  of  an  inheritance  in 
the  skies  which  is  as  secure  as  the  throne  of  God,  the 
believing  soul,  is  lifted  above  the  reach  of  bodily  dan- 
gers. But  the  soul  is  the  true  man,  the  true  self,  the 
part  alone  which  feels  or  knows,  desires  or  fears,  sorrows 
or  rejoices,  and  which  lives  forever.  It  is  fate  which  is 
irrevocable.  If -it  be  lost,  all.  is  lost ;  and  finally  lost ;  if 
it  be  secure,  all  other  losses  are  secondary,  yea,  in  com- 
parison, trivial.  To  the  child  of  God,  rage  of  enemies, 
mortal  weapons,  and  pestilence  are  impotent.  True,  he 
has  no  assurance  that  they  may  not  reach  his  body 
enly,  and, 

"If  the  plague  corns  nigh, 

And  sweep  the  wicked  down  to  hell, 
Twill  raise  the  saints  on  high." 

This  is  our  Saviour's  argumsnt,  "Be  not  afraid  of 
them  that  kill  the  body  ;  and  after  that  have  no  more  that 


" TRUE    COURAGE.  .  17 

they  can  do?"  Pagan  fable  perhaps  intended  to  fore- 
shadow this  glorious  truth,  when  it  described  its  hero 
with  a  body  made  invulnerable  by  its  bath  in  the  divine 
river,  and  therefore  insensible  to  fear,  and  indifferent  to 
the  weapons  of  death.  But  the  spiritual  reality  of  the 
allegory  is  found  only,  in  the  Christian,  wbo  has  washed 
his  soul  from  the  stain  of  sin,  (which  alone  causes  its 
death,)  in  the  Redeemer's  blood.  He  is  the  invulnera- 
ble man.  "  The  arrow  cannot  make  him  flee  ;  darts  are 
counted  as  stubble;  he  laugheth  at  the  shaking  of  a 
spear."  He  shares,  indeed  the  natural  affections  snd  in- 
stincts which  makelife  sweet  to  every  man,"  and  bodily 
pain  and  death  formidable.  But  these  emotions  of  his 
sensuous  being  are  counteracted  by  his  faith,  which  gives 
to  his  soul  a  substantial,  inward  sense  of  heavenly  life, 
as  more  real  and  satisfying  than  the  carnal.  The  clearer 
the  life  of  the  (Jhristias,  the  more  complete  is  this  vie 
toiy  over  natural  fears.  To  the  mere  unbeliever,  this 
mortal  life  is  his  all-in-all,  bodily  death  is  utter  extinc- 
tion, pain  is  the  master  evil,  and  the  grave  is  covered  by 
a  horror  of  great  darkness  unrelieved  by  one  ray  of  hope 
or  light.  And  Christians  of  a  weaker  type,  in  their  mo- 
ments cannot  shake  off  the  shuddering  of  nature  in  the 
presence  of  these,  the  supreme  evils  of  the  natural  man. 
But  as  faith  brightens,  that  tremor  is  quieted  ;  the  more 
substantial  the  grasp  of  faith  on  eternal  realities,  the 
more  does  the  giant  death  dwindle  in  his  proportions,  the 
less  mortal  does  his  sword  appear,  the  narrower  and 
more  trivial  e eems  the  gap  which  he  makes  between  this 
life  and  the  higher ;  because  that  better  life  is  brought 
nearer  to  the  apprehension  of  the  soul.  Does  the  eagle 
lament  to  see  the  wolf  ravage  its  deserted  nest,  as  it  be- 


18  TRUJi  courage; 

take3  itself  to  its  destined  skies,  and  nerves  its  young 
pinions  and  tires  its  eyes  in  the  beams  of  the  king  of 
day?  The  believer  knows  also,  that  should  his  body  be 
smitten  into  the  grave,  the  resurrection  day  will  repair 
all  the  ravages  of  the  sword,  and  restore  the  poor  tene- 
ment to  his  occupancy,  "  fashioned  like  unto  Christ's  glo- 
rious body."  He  can  adopt  the  boast  of  inspiration : 
"  God  is  our  refuge  and  strength  ;  a  very  present  help  in 
trouble.  Therefore  will  not  we  fear  though  the  earth  be 
removed,  and  though  the  mountains  be  carried  into. the 
midst  of  the  sea."  (Ps.  46:  1,  2.)  Amidst  the  storm 
of  battle,  and  even  the  wreck  of  defeat,  his  steadfast 
heart  knows  no  fear. 

But  that  the  enemy  of  God  should  have  courage  in 
battle,  is  incomprehensible  to  me.  It  can  only  be  ex- 
plained by  thoughtlessness.  When  the  danger  which 
assails  the  body  reaches  the  soul  also,  when  the  weapon 
that  lays  the  body  in  the  dust,  will  plunge  the  soul  into 
everlasting  and  intolerable  torments,  by  what  philosophy 
cau  a  reasoning  being  brace  himself  to.  meet  it?  He 
who  has  not  God  for  his  friend,  has  no  right  to  be  brave. 
But  we  should  be  far  from  inferring  thence,  that- citizen 
who  is  conscious  of  his  enmity  to  God,  is  therefore  jus- 
tified in  shunning  the  exposure  to  this  risk,  at  the  ex- 
pense of  duty  and  honor.  This  would  be  but  to  add  sin 
to  sin,  and  folly  to  folly.  If  safety  is  not  found  in  the 
path  of  duty,  still  more  surely  it  will  not  be  found  when 
out  of  it.  He  is  in  the  greatest  danger,  who  is  disobey- 
ing God  ;  and  infinite  wisdom  and  power  can  never  be 
at  a  loss  for  means  to  strike  their  enemj',  however  far 
removed  wounds  and  weapons  of  war  may  be.  To  refuse 
a  recognized  duty  is  the  surest  way  to  alienate  the  mer- 


TRUE    COUKA.GE.  19 

cy  of  God,  and  to  grieve  the  IJply  Ghost,  on  whom  we 
depend  for  faith  and  repentance.  The  only  safe  or  ra- 
tional course  therefore,  for  the  ungodly  soldier,  is  to 
make  his  peace  with  God  at  once  ;  and  thus  advance  with 
well-grounded  confidence  in  the  path  of  his  duty,  and  of 
all  men  the  soldier  has  the  strongest  reasons  to  become 
a  Christian ! 

Such  was  the  foundation  of  the  courage  of  Jackson. 
He  walked  with  God,  in  conscious  integrity  ;  and  he  em- 
braced with  all  his  heart  "  the  righteousness  of  God 
which  is  by  the  faith  of  Jesus  Christ."  His  soul,  I  be- 
lieve, dwelt  habitually  in  the  full  assurance  that  God 
was  his  God,  and  his  portiou  forever.  His  manly  and 
vigorous  faith  brought  heaven  so  near,  that  death  had 
slight  terrors  for  him.  While  it  would  be  unjust  to 
charge  him  with  rashness  in  exposure  to  danger,  yet 
whenever  his  sense  of  duty  prompted  it,  he  seemed  to 
risk  his  person  with  an  absolute  indifference  to  fear.  The 
sense  of  his  responsibilities  to  his  country,  the  heat  of 
his.  mighty  spirit  in  the  crisis  of  battle,  might  sometimes 
agitate  him  vehemently;  but  never  was  the  most  immi- 
nent personal  peril  seen  to  disturb  his  equanimity  for 
one  moment.*  It  is  a  striking  trait  of  the  impression 
which  he  has  made  upon  his  countrymen,  that  while  no 
man  could  possibly  be  father  from  boasting,  it  always 
became  the  first  article  of  the  belief  of  those  subject  to 
his  command,  that  he  was  of  course,  a  man  of  perfect 
courage. 

But  courage  alone1  does  not  explain  the  position  which 
he  held  in  the  hen  i  ?  s  of  his  people.  In  this  land  of  he- 
roic memories,  and  braVe  men,  others  besides  Jackson 
have  displayed  true  courage.  God  did  not  endow  him 
with  several  of  those  native  gifts  which  are  supposed  to 


20  TKUE  COUR1GE. 

allure  the  idolatry  of  mankind  towards  their  heroes.  He 
affected  no  kingly  mien  nor  martial  pomp  ;  bat  always 
bore  himself  with  the  modest  propriety  of  the  Christian.* 
Nor  did  he  ever  study  or  practice  those  arts,  by  which  a 
Buonaparte  .or  an  Alexander  kindled  the  enthusiasm  of 
their  followers.  The  only  manifestation  which  ho  ever 
made  of  himself  was  in  the  simple  and  diligent  perform- 
ance of  the  duties  of  his  office.  His  port  on  the  battle- 
field was  usually  rather  suggestive  of  the  zeal  and  in- 
dustry of  the  faithful  servant,  than  of  the  contagious 
exaltation  of  a  master-spirit.  Nature  had  not  given  to 
him  even,  the  corporeal  gift  of  the  trumpet  tones,  with 
which  other  leaders  are  said  to  have  roused  the  divine 
phrensy  in  their  followers.  It  was  only  at  times  that 
his  modest  and  feeble  voice  was  lifted  up  to  his  hosts?; 
and  then,  as  he  shouted  his  favorite  call :  "  Press  for- 
ward," the  fiery  energy  of  his  will,  thrilled  through  his, 
rapid  utterance,  rather  like  the  deadly  clang  ol  the  rifle^, 
than  the  sonorous  peal  of  the  clarion.  His  was  a  mas- 
ter-spirit; but  it  was  too  simply  grand  to  study  dramat- 
ic sensations.  It  impressed  its  might  upon  the  souls  of 
his  countrymen,  not  through  deportment,  but  through 
deeds.  Its  discourses  were  toilsome  marches  and  bat- 
tles joined,  its  perorations  were  the  thunder-claps  of  de- 
feat hurled  upon  the  enemies  of  his  country.  It  jfeveaK 
ed  itself  to  us  only  through  the  purity  and  force  of  his 
action ;  and  therefore  the  intensity  of  the  eft'ect  he  has 
produced. 

This  may  help  us  to  explain  the  enigma  of  his  reputa- 
tion. Y  How  is  it  that  this  man,  of  all  others  least  aoefts- 
torued  to  exercise  his  own  fancy,  or  address  that  of  others 
Jias  stimulated  the  imagination,  ^not  only  of  his  country- 
men,  but  of  the  civilized  world,  above  all  the  sons  of  ge- 


—    ■      -  •  —  ■ — — *j*.mi  uwmaui,.       ■  "■  _L 

nius  among  us  ?  How  has  he,  the  most  unromautie  of 
great  men,  become  the  hero  of  a  living  romance,  the 
ideal  of  an  inflamed  fancy  in  every  mind,  even  before  his 
life  had  passed  into  history !  How  did  that  calm  eye 
kindle  the  fire  of  so  passionate  a  love  and  admiration  in 
the  heart  of  his  people?  He  was  brave,  bu*  not  the 
only  brave.  He  revealed  transcendant  military  talent ; 
but  the  diadem  of  his  country  now  glows  with  a  galaxy 
of  such  talent.  He  was  successful  ;  but  we  have  more 
than  one  captain,  whose  bannei  never  trailed  before  an 
enemy..  I  will  tell  you  the  solution.  It  was,  chiefly, 
the  singleness,  purity,  and  elevation  of  his  aims.  Every 
one  who  observed  him  was  as  thoroughly  convinced  of 
his  uBjA^fish  devotion  to  duty  as  of  his  courage  ;  as  cer- 
tain that  no  thought  of  personal  advancement,  of  ambi 
tion  or  applause,  ever  for  one  instant  divided  the  homage 
of  his  heart  with  his  great  cause,  and  that  "  all  the  ends 
he  aimed  at  were  his  country's,  his  God's,  and  truth's," 
as  that  he  was  brave.  The  love  of  his  countrymen  is 
the  spontaneous  testimony  of  the  common  conscience, 
to  the  beauty  of  holiness.  It  is  the  confession  of  our 
naturo  that  the  virtue  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures,  tvhich 
is  a  virtue  purer  and  loftier  than  that  of  philosophy,  is 
true  greatness,  grander  than  knowledge,  talent,  courage, 
or  success.  Here,  then,  as  I  believe,  is  God's < chief  les- 
son iu  his  life  and  death,  (and  the  belief  encourages  aus- 
picious hopes  concerning  God's  designs  towards  us.)  IJe 
would  teach  us  the  beauty  and  power  oi  pure  Christiani- 
ty, as  an  element  of  our  social  life,  ©f  our  national  career, 
Therefore  he  took  an  exemplar  of  Christian  sincerity,  as 
near  perfection  as  the  infirmities  of  our  nature  would 
permit,  formed  and  trained  in  an  honorable  retirement ; 
he  set  it  in  the  furnace  of  trial,  at  an  hour  when  threat 


'11  TUUE    COUKAGE. 

events  and  dangers  had  awakened  the  popular  heart  to 
njost  intense  action  ;  he  illustrated  it  with  that  species 
of  distinction  which  above  all  others,  attracts  the  popu- 
lar gaze,#ailitary  glory;  and  held  it  up  to  the  admiring 
inspection  of  a  country  grateful  for  the  deliverance  it 
had  wrought  for  us.  Thus  he  has  taught  us,  how  good 
a  thing  his  fear  is.  lie  has  made  all  men  see  and  ac- 
knowledge that,  in  this  man,  his  Christianity  was  the 
fountain  head  of  the  virtues  and  talents,  which  they  so 
rapturously  applauded ;  that  it  was  the  fear  of  God 
which  made  him  so  fearless  of  all  else ;  that  it  was  the 
love  of  God  which  animated  his  energies  ;  that  it  was 
the  singleness  of  his  aims  which  caused  his  wlme  body 
to  be  so  full  of  light,  that  the  unerring  decisions  of  his 
own  judgment,  suggested  to  the  unthinking,  the  belief 
in  his  actual  inspiration ;  that  the  lofty  chivalry  of  his 
nature  was  but  the  reflex  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ.  Do 
not  even  the  profane  admit  this  explanation  of  his  cha- 
racter ?  Here  then,  is  God's  lesson,  in  this  life,  to  these 
Confederate  States  :  "  It  is  righteousness  that  exalteth." 
Hear  it  ye  young  men,  ye  soldiers,  ye  magistrates,  ye 
law-givers;  that  "he  that  exalteth  himself  shall  be 
abased  ;  but  he  that  humbleth  himself  shall  be  exalted." 

But  what  would  he  teach  us  by  his  death,  to  our  view 
so  untimely  ?  To  this  question,  human  reason  can  only 
an  5wer,  that  God's  judgments  are  far  above  us,  and  past 
our  finding  out..       t 

One  lovely  Sabbath,  riding  alone  with  me  to  a  religious 
service  in  a  camp,  Gen.  J  ackson  was  talking  of  the  gene- 
ral prospects  of  the  war,  hopefully,  as  he  ever  did.  But 
at  the  close,  he  assumed  an  air  of  intense  seriousness, 
and  said  :  "  I  do  not  mean  to  convey  the  impression  that 
T  have  not  as  much  to  live  for  as  any  man.  and  that  life 


TRUE    C0URA6E.  'Z6 

is  not  as  sweet.  But  I  do  not  desire  to  survive  the  in- 
dependence of  my  country."  Can  this  death  be>  the -an- 
swer to  that  wish  ?  Can  "the  solution  be,  that  having 
tried  us,  and  Ibund  us  unworthy  such  a- deliverer,  he  has 
hid  his  favorite  in  the  grave,  in  the  brightness  of  his 
hopes,  and  before  his  blooming  honors  received  any  blight 
from  disaster,  from  the  calamities  which  our  sins  are 
about  to  bring  upon  us  ?  Nay ;  we  will  not  believe  that 
the  legacy  of  Jackson's  prayers  was  all  expended  by  us, 
when  he  died ;  they  will  3-et  avail  for  us  all  the  more, 
that  they  are  now  sealed  by.  his  blood.  The  deliverance 
of  the  Jews  did  not  end  with  the  untimely  end  of  Judas 
Maccabee.  The  death  of  William  of  Orange  was  not 
the  death  of  the  Dutch  Republic.  The  lamented  fall  of 
John  Hampden  was  not  the  fall  of  the  liberties  of  Eng- 
land. And,  if  we  may  reverently  associate  another  in- 
stance with  these,  the  crucifixion  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth, 
was,  contrary  to  the  fears  of  his  disciples,  but  the  begin- 
ning of  the  sect  of  the  Nazarenes.  So,  let  us  hope,  the 
tree  of  our  liberties  will  flourish  but  the  more  for  the 
precious  blood  by  which  it  is  watered. 

May  it  not  be,  that  God;  after  enabling  him  to  render 
all  the  service  which  was  essential  to  our  "deliverance? 
and  showing  us  in  him,  the  brightest  example  of  the 
glory  of  Christianity,  has  bid  him  enter  into  the  joy  of 
his  Lord,  at  this  juncture,  in  order  to  warn  us  against 
our  incipient  idolatry,  and  smake  us  say  :  "  It  is  better 
to  trust  in  the  Lord,  than  to  put  confidence  in  princes?" 
No  man  would  more  strongly  deprecate  this  idolatry  of 
human  instruments,  than  Jackson,  and  never  so  strongly, 
as  whsn  addressed  to  himself.  None  can  declare  more 
emphatically  than  would  he,  if  he  spoke  to  us  from  the 
skies,  that  while  man   is  mortal,    the  cause  is  immortal. 


34  TRUE    COURAGE. 

Away  then,  with  unmanly  discouragements,  God  lives, 
though  our  hero  is  dead. 

That  he  should  have  toiled  so  hard  for  the  indepen- 
dence of  his  country,  and  so  ardently  desired  it ;  and 
then  at  last,  be  forbidden  to  hail  the  day  of  our  final  deliv- 
erance, or  to  receive  the  grateful  honors  which  his  fellow- 
citizens  were  preparing  for  him  ;  this  has  saddened  ev^ery 
heart  with  a  pang  both  tender  and  pungent.  The  medi- 
cine to  this  pain,  my  brethren,  is  to  remember,  that  he 
has  entered  into  a  triumph  and  peace,  so  much  more 
glorious  than  that  which  he  bled  to  achieve  for  his  coun- 
try. It  would  have  been  sweet  to  us,  to  hail  him  re- 
turning from  his  last  victory  to  a  delivered  and  enfran- 
chised country ;  sweet  to  see  and  sympathize  with  the 
joy  with  which  he  hung  up  his  sword,  and  paid  the  sacri- 
fices of  thanksgiving  in  the  courts  of  the  Lc  rd's  house  > 
sweet  to  witness,  with  reverent  respect,  the  domestic 
bliss  of  home  for  which  he  so  much  sighed,  solacing  him 
for  his  long  fatigues.  That  happiness  we  have  lost ;  but 
he  has  lost  nothing.  He  has  laid  down  his  sword  at  the 
footstool  of  his  Father  God  ;  he  now  sings  his  thanks- 
giving song  in  a  nobler  sanctuary  than  the  earthly  one 
he  loved  so  much;  he  "  bathes  his  weary  soul  in  seas  of 
heavenly  rest." 

We  who  loved  him,  while  we  bewail  our  own  loss, 
should  not  forget  the  circumstances  which  alleviate  the 
grief  of  his  death.  Surely,  it  was  no  illrchosen  time  for 
God  to  call  him  to  his  rest,  when  his  powers  were  in 
their  undimmed  prime,  and  his  military  glory  at  its 
zenith  ;  when  his  greatest  victory  had  just  been  won  ; 
and  the  last  sounds  of  earth  which  reached  him  were  the 
thanksgivings  and  blessings  of  a  nation  in  raptures  for 
his  achievements  ;  in  tears  for  his  sufferings.     1  love  to 


TRUE    COURAGE.  25 

remember  too,  that  bis  martyr-life  had  just  been  glad- 
dened by  the  gratification  of  those  affections  which  were 
in  him  so  sweet  and  strong,  and  which  yet,  he  sacrificed, 
so  patiently,  for  his  country. 

Still  more  do  we- thank  God  that  it  was  practicable, 
as  it  might  not  have  been  at  an  earlier,  or  a  later  period, 
for  him  to  enjoy  those  ministrations  of  love,  in  his  last 
days,  which  were  the  dearest  solace  of  his  sufferings. 
Into  the  sacredness  of  those  last  communings,  and  of 
the  grief  which, survives  them  in  his  widowed  home,  we 
may  not  allow  even  our  thoughts  to  intrude.  And  yet, 
may  not  a  mourning  nation  venture  to  utter  their  bless- 
ing on  the  mourning  heart  which  blessed  him  with  its 
love ;  and  to  pray,  that  the  breast  which  so  magnanim- 
ously calmed  its  tumult,  to  make  a  quiet  pillow  for  the 
dying  head  of  their  hero,  may  be  visited  by  God,  with 
the  most  healing  balm  of  heavenly  consolation?  Will 
not  all  the  people  say :  amen  ? 

Nor  will  they  forget  the  tender  flower,  sole  off-shoot 
of  the  parent  stock,  born  to  bloom  amidst  the  wintry 
storms  of  war,  which  he  would  fain  have  forbidden  tke 
summer  breeze  to  visit  too  roughly.  The  giant  tree 
which  would  have  shielded  it  with  pride  so  loving,  lies 
prone  before  the  blast.  But  his  God  will  be  its  God  ; 
and  as  long  as  the*  most  rugged  breast  of  his  hardy  com- 
rades is  warm,  it  will  not  lack  for  a  parent's  tenderness. 

And  now,  with  one  more  lesson,  I  leave  you  to  the 
teachings  of  the  mighty  dead.  If  there  was  one  trait 
which  was  eminent  in  him  above  the  rest,  it  was  deter- 
mination. This  was  the  power,  before  whose  steady  and 
ardent  heat  obstacles  melted  away.  This  was  the  force, 
which  caused  his  battalions  to  breast  the  onsets  of  the 


20  TRUE    COURAGE. 

enemy  like  ramparts  of  stone,  or  else  launched  them  ir- 
resistibly upon  their  shivered  lines ;  "  the  unconquerable 
will,  the  purpose  never  to  submit  or  yield  !"  Every  one 
who  was  near  him  felt  that  defeat  was  a  result  who \\y 
excluded  from  his  contemplation.  Let  us  imbibe  this 
spirit.  As  we,  visit  the  soil  which  drank  his  blood  !  or 
the  grave  where  his  body  rests  in  the  bosom  of  his  be- 
loved valley,  we  will  adopt  them  as  new  seals  to  our 
pledge  to  be  free  or  die.  Let  us  resolve  that  as  the 
solemn  mountain  peaks  keep  their  everlasting  watch 
around  the  home  and  the  tomb  of  Jackson,  even  so  im- 
movably will  we  guard  the  honor  and  the  rights  for  which 
he  died. 


A.  !P  F  E  1ST  D I X  . 

Sketch  of  the  Life  of  Lieut.  Gen.  T.  J.  Jackson. 


A  few  facts  in  regard  to  the  life  and  death  of  General 
Jackson  may  not  be  inappropriate,  as  an  appendix  to  the 
foregoing  discoures.  The  following  sketch  appeared  in 
the  Richmond  Sentinel,  from  the  pen  of  an  intimate 
friend  of  the  illustrious  dead : 

"  Thomas  J.  Jackson  was  born  on  the  21st  day  of  Jan- 
uary, 1824,  in  C'larksburg,  Harrison  county,  Va.  His 
great  grand-father,  John  Jack.- on,  and  his  great  grand- 
mother were  of  English  birth. 

They  emigrated  to  this  country  at  an  early  duy,  and 
settled  on  the  South  branch  of  the  Potomac.  Subse- 
quently, they  removed  to  what  is  now  Lewis  county,  in 
Northwestern  Virginia.  Their  son,  Edward,  (grand- 
father of  Thomas  J.,)  was  surveyor  in  Harrison  county 
for  many  years,  and  subsequently  represented  the  coun- 
ty of  Lewis  in  the  Legislature  for  several  years.  Jona- 
than Jackson,  the  father  of  Gen.  Jackson,  studied  law 
under  Judge  John  G.  Jackson,  in  Clarksburg;  and  then 
commenced  its  practice,  acquiring  some  reputation.  He 
became  embarrassed  as  security  for  his  friends,  and  all 
his  property  was  swept  away  before  his  death,  which 
took  place  in  1827.  He  left  four  children,  of  whom 
Thomas,  the  youngest,  was  but  three  years  old.  An  un- 
cle, then  residing  in  Lewis  county,  took  the  little  orphan 
to  Rve  with  him  Here  Thomas,  by  going  to  school  three 
months  in  the  winter,  and  laboring  on  the  farm  the  resi- 
due of  the  year,  as  was  the  custom  with  the  farmers' 
sons  in  Western  Virginia,  acquired  the  rudiments  of  a 
plain  English  education.  About  the  age  of  seventeen  he 
was  appointed  to  a  Cadetship  at  "West  Point.  He  here 
graduated  with  high  distinction. 

Gen.  Jackson  entered  the  military  service  under  Gen. 
Zachary  Tayltr,  with  the  rank  of  Brevet  Lieutenant. 
When  Gen.  Scott  was  ordered  to  Mexico,  Lieut.  Jack- 
son joined  him  at  Vera  Cruz.  In  the  short  but  sanguin- 
ary and  brilliant  campaign  that  followed,  resulting  in  the 
capture  of  the  city  of  Mexico,  Lieut.  Jackson,  by  suo- 


•J8 


(JEN.    T.    J.    .UCJKS0N 


cessivc  promotions  for  his  gallantry  and  merit,  became 
Brevet  Major.  Perhaps  none  who  started  even  w"ith 
•him  attained  so  high. 

After  the  Mexican  war  was  over  Major  Jackson  left 
the  army  because  of  impaired  health,  and  accepted  a 
Professorship  at  the  Virginia  Military  Institute. 

When  the  present  troubles  commenced,  he  repaired  at 
once  to  Richmond,  where  he  was  commissioned  Colonel 
by  Governor  Letcher,  and  ordered  to  take  command  at 
Harper's  Ferry.  He  arrived  there  May  2d, .  18G1,  and 
the  next  day  ente;  ed  upon  his  duties.  From  -that  day 
to  the  fatal  3rd  of  May,  1763,  just  after  midnight,  when 
he  received  his  disabling  wounds,  he  was  never  absent 
from  the  first  day  of.  duty.  *  *  *  * 

Gen,  Jackson  was  twice  married.  The  first  time  te  a 
daughter  af  Rev-  Dr\  Junkin.  Her  children  all  died. 
His  widow  fv.as  Miss  Morrison,  of  North  Carolina,  who, 
with  an  inriat  daughter  of  five  months,  now  survives 
him." 

We  need  not  spea  ^  °f  ^s  brilliant  military  career,  be-- 
ginning  with  the  m»  i^erly  defence  of  Harper's  Ferrj-, 
and  continued  throuffl.  l  *ne  Napoleonic  campaign  in  the 
Valley,  and  ending  wit  a  tae  glorious  but  mournful  field 
of  Chancellorsville.  \  n^e  impression  produced  by  it 
abroad,  may  be  inferred  .  ^rom  some  extracts  from  Eng- 
lish papers.  The  London  Post  (Government  organ,,)  of 
May  5th,  speaking  of  him     says  : 

'•  Whilst  his  religien  taut    'ht  mVm  humility  and  depen- 
dence upon  the  Creator  it  c    uc*  not  laad  ^im  to  confound 
the  true  nature  of  the  objecv   "s  for  which  both  he  and  Lis 
lollowers  were  str  iviste    and      to   suppose   that   because 
their  ends  were  ni  .blk'that  th    erefore,  they  were  cham- 
pions of  God.     If    he  was  occat    ionally  a  preacher   in  the 
camp,  he  was  skill,  ful   and  also     a  gallant  general  in  the 
field ;  and  it  is  not    surprising  t\   at  those  wno  Kad  so  fre- 
quently followed  }    im  to  victory    should  have  considered 
him  as  specially     ^ored   by   ?*■  ovidence>   and  "have  re- 
dded him  -wi*    .  feelihas  akin  tte    devotion.     As  a  soldier 
y'y  v      t  i*j  'the  foremost  pi  V*  in  the  history  of  the 
f°  *£$  Tar     Hi&^&iO  is  indellibly  associ- 


ar.S.    J.    J.   JACKSON.  29 

federate  armies ;  by  those  achievements,  by  his  genius 
and  hh  coinage,  he  more  than  any  one  else  specially  con- 
tributed. Stragetic  ability  is  the  most  valuable  qualifi- 
cation a  General  can  possess ;  but  it  is  not  always  that 
consummate  military  tacticians  command  the  confidence 
of  their  followers,  or  insure  the  success 'of  the  opera- 
tions they  conduct.  It  was,  however,  the  good  fortune 
of  General  Jackson,  to  lead  men  who,  whilst  their  cour- 
age was  exalted  in  an  extraordinary  degree  by  the  con- 
viction that  nothing  could  be  worse  than  defeat,  were 
inspired  with  an  unshaken  faith  in  the  genius  and  abili- 
ty of  their  General.  To  follbw  Jackson  they  knew  was 
to  march  to  certain  victory;  and,  if  it' was  necessary 
that  success  should  be  purchased  at  the  cost  of  many 
lives,  that  reflection  did  not  dispirit  them,  for  the  cause 
in  which  they  were  fighting  stripped  death  of  all  its  ter- 
rors." 

The  London  Herald  (Derby  organ,)  of  the  27th 
says: 

"  He  was  animated  by  the  spirit  which  rendered  the 
soldiers  of  the  Commonwealth  irresistible  in  fight — 
which  carried  Havelock  through  incredible  dangers  to 
the  gates  of  Lucknow  in  triumph.  The  Northern  Re- 
public has  produced  no  heroes  of  the  stamp  of  Jackson. 
One*  such  man  might  be  the  salvatidnof  them  yet.  Bla- 
tant demagogues  at  home,  bragging  imbeciles  in  the 
field,  aflbrd  a  spectacle  so  absurd,  and  yet  so  painful, 
that  Europe  knows,  not  whether  to  laugh  or  weep  at  the 
degradation  of  her  children.  The  Northerners  want  a 
man  to  do  a  man's  work.  The  only  great  men  of  the 
!  war  have  been  developed  in  the  South.  It  is  very  diffi- 
cult to  explaiii  this.  Some  may  call  it  a  fatality^  some  a 
i  providential  arrangement.  That  it  is  a  fact  is  at  present 
I  enough  for  us*" 

An  impression  exists  in  many  minds  that  his  religion 
was  of  a  stern  and  austere  type.  But  this  is  a  mistake. 
|  He  was  stern  in  discharging  his  duty,  but  his  religion 
jwas  of  a  sunny  and  hopeful  character.  A  little  incident 
illustrates  this.  It  was  his  habit,  when  camp  duties  per- 
mitted, to  gather  his  staff  in" his  re***    —   °  "     . 

US  to  Sini*  i— - 


30  '.i;>.    T.    J.    JA.CK80K, 

snug  his  usual  reply,  was,  we  will  begin  with  "  How  hap- 
py are  they,  who  their  Saviour  obey,"  and  the  fact  that 
this  joyous,  exulting  hymn  was  his  favorite  is  a  sufficient 
key  to  the  general  tone  of  his  religious  character.  It 
Lad  that  blended  tenderness,  hopefulness  and  firmness 
that  constituted  his. natural  character,  and  made  him  the 
remarkable  man  he  was.  Two  other  incidents  recorded 
jn  the  papers  from  authentic  scources  illustrate  this  fine 
combination  of  characteristics  : 

"  Previous  to  the  first  battle  *of  Manassas,  when  the 
troops  under  the  command  of  Stonewall  Jackson  had 
made  a  forced  march,  on  halting  at  night  they  fell  on  the 
ground  exhausted  and  faint.^  The  hour  arrived  for  set- 
ting the  watch  for  the  night.  The  officw  of  the  day 
went  to  the  General's  tent,  and  said — 

"  General,  the  men  are  all  wearied,  and  there  is  not 
one  but  is  asleep.     Shall  I  wake  them?" 

"  No,"  said  the  noble  Jackson,  "  let  them  sleep,  and  1^ 
will  watch  the  camp  to-night," 

And  all  night  long  he  rode  around  that  lonely  camp, 
the  one  lone  sentinel  for  that  brave  but  weary  and  si- 
lent body  of  Virginia  heroes.  And  when  glorious  morn- 
ing broke,  the  soldiers  woke  refreshed  and  ready  for  ac- 
tion, all  unconscious  of  the  noble  vigils  kept  over  their 
slumber. 

The  night  preceding  that  on  which  he  received  his 
wounds,  Gen.  Jackson  and  his  staff  were  in  the  open  air 
without  tents.  One  of  his  aids  prevailed  on  the  Gene- 
ral to  accept  of  him  a  light  covering.  In  the  night, 
however,  when  all  was  wrapped  in  deep  sleep,  Jackson 
arose,  and  gently  laying  the  covering  over  the  young 
aid,  he  lay  down  again  and  slept  without  any  protection 
whatever.  In  the  morning  he  awoke  with  a  cold,  which 
brought  on  the  attack,  eventually  causing  his  death, 
from  pneumonia."  , 

As  soon  as  it  was  ascertained  that  he  was  wounded, 
Gen.  Lee  sent  him  the  following  note,  as  noble  a  tribute 
to  the  writer  as  it  was  to  the  hero  to  whom  it  was  ad- 
dressed: 


>,T.S.     T.     J.     J 

"  Ch.an(:ellorsvit.i.e.  May  4th. 
Generil  : — T  have  just  received  your  note  informing 
me  that  you  were  wounded.  I  cannot  express  my  re- 
gret at  the  occurrence.  Could  I  have  directed  events  1 
should  Lave  chosen,  for  the  good  of  the  country,  to  have 
been  disabled  in  your  stead. 

I  congratulate  you  upon  the  victory  which  is  due  to 
your  sk.R  and  energy. 

Most  truly  yours, 
(Signed)  R.  E.  LEE,  General. 

Lieut.  Gex.  T.  J.  Jackson. 

On  hearing  this,  he  was  deeply  affected  by  the  gene- 
rous tribute  of  his  chief,  but  humbly  remarked,  that^he 
glory  of  the  victory  was  due  to  God  alone. 

When  he  saw  the  anxiety  of  .those  around  him  con- 
cerning, his  wounds,  he  said  that  he  esteemed  them  great 
blessings,  that  they  were  all  right  and  would  work  to- 
gether for  good  to  him. 

It  was  a  special  kindness  of  God  to  him  that  ln>wife 
and  child,  whom  he  had  seen  so  little  during  the  war, 
were  allowed  to  reach  him  soon  after  he  was  wounded, 
to  soothe  and  cheer  his  closing  days.  When  he  saw  tho 
irrepressible  grief  of  his  beloved  wife,  he  tried  to  cheer  her 
saying,  "  I  know  you  would  gladly  give  your  life  for  me, 
but  do  not  be  sad.  I  hope  still  to  recover.  Pray  for 
me,  but  always  remember  to  say,  '  Thy  will  be  cfcne.'  " 

When  speaking  of  the  probability  of  his  death,  he  ad- 
vised her  to  make  her  home  with  her  "  kind  and  good 
father,"  as  he  termed  him ;  but  added  no  one  is  so 
'•  kind  and  good  as  your  Heavenly  Father." 

When  told  that  his  old  Stonewall  Brigade  had  gone 
into  battle  w-ith  the  watchword,  rt  charge,  and  remember* 
Jackson,"  and  inspired  by  it  had  swept  the  enemy  be- 
fore them  in  resistless  triumph,  he  was  moved,  and  re- 
marked "  it  was  just  like  them,  they  are  a  noble  body 
of  men." 

His  thoughts  ran  much  on  the  Bible,  and  he  made 
many  inquiries  about  it  from  theologians  around  him» 
which  elicited  some  characteristic  remarks,  about  what 
he  called  H  the  headquarters  "  of  Christianity  and  its 
first  preachers.     He  inquired  whether  any  of  those  per- 


JACKSON. 

^TPBI^MHHd  a  return  of  their  disease, 
declaring  that  to  him  this  seemed  impossible,  so  great 
was  the  power  exerted,  c;  that  the  poor  paralytic  could 
never  again  tremble  with  the  palsy,"  and  exclaimed 
once,  "  Oh  for  infinite  power." 

As  his  end  drew  near,  he  was  told  that  he  had  but  two 
hours  to  live.     He  calmly  replied,  "it  will  then  be  infi- 

,  nite  gain  to  be  translated  to  heaven,  and  be  with  Jesus." 
When  his  unconscious  babe  was  brought  to  him  for  a  last 
farewell,  he  gazed  tenderly  on  her,  and  said,  "  how  sweet 
it  would  be  to  live -for  this  dear  babe,"  then  looking  up, 
serenely  he  added,  u  No,  it  is  better  to  depart  and  be  at. 
peace." 

His  wanderings  of  mind  were  on  his  duty.     He  was 
a^ain  at  the  head  of  his  fiery  columns,   the  light  of  bat- 

•  *  tie*  in  4iis  eye,  and  its  thunder  in  his  ear,  and  he  ordered 
one  officer. to  prepare  for  action,  another  to  "bring  the 
infantry  to  the  front,"  and  another  to  have  provisions 
brought  to  the  men.  At  last  he  faintly  whispered,  "  all 
right,"  as  if  his  heroic  spirit  heard  the  shout  of  victory, 
and  was  ready  for  its  rest. 

He  had  always  desired  to  die  on  the  Sabbath,  and  this 
wish  was  kindly  gratified.  And  during  the  morning 
when  his  thoughts  were  not  wandering,  he  made  special 
inquiry  about  the  arrangements  for  preaching,  and  was 
not  satisfied  until  assured  that  the  men  should  be  sup- 
plied with  religious  services,  he  seemed  to  sink  into  a 
calm  repose  of  both  body  and  mind,  from  which  he  nev- 
er fully  rallied.  As  his  thoughts  were  wandering  on 
some  scene,  earthly  or  heavenly,  he  was  heard  to  mur- 
mur "  let  us  pass  over  the  river  and  rest  under  the 
trees,"  as  if  the  bright  unfading  scenes  on  the  other 
•  side  of  Jordan  were  dawning  to  his  gaze ;  and  before  the 

W  shadows  had  grown  long  on  that  bright  Sabbath  noon, 

*"•  his  noble  and  holy  spirit  had  passed  over  the  river,  and 
was  walking  in  the  brightness  beneath  the  trees  that 
fringe' the  banks  of  the  crystal  stream,  and  had  entered 
upon  that  rest  that  remaineth  for  the  people  of  God. 

"Servant  of  God,  well  done! 
'     '  Best  from  thy  loved  employ, 

The  battle  fought,  the  victory  won, 
Eu?er  thy  Maater'a  joy." 


J 


Hollinger  Corp. 
PH8.5 


